H-O-M-E...

“Where is it?” “What is it?” “Does it exist?”
The last few days I've been thinking about home...

After living in Holland for about 10 years, it finally started feeling like home. Then I left. Now I’m back for a few weeks and realize I miss not having a place of my own. It feels awkward and strangely enough it feels like I don't have a home anymore.

HOME: is it a place? is it a feeling? is it a group of people? While figuring this out I'll reflect on the following quotes.

"One never reaches home, but wherever friendly paths intersect the whole world looks like home for a time."
(Hermann Hesse. 1960)

"Home is where the heart is and hence a movable feast." (Angela Carter. 1976)

"Home is any four walls that enclose the right person."
(Helen Rowland. 1903)

"Home is the place where, when you have to go there, They have to take you in." (Robert Frost. 1914)

Chance of a life time...

In November Nathan & his mom travelled from Kenema to Freetown, in the hope that they would find help for Nathan. One look at Nathan and my heart melted; what a happy healthy baby. Despite his deformity he was full of smiles. And his mom, though very concerned, obviously loved him very much- it’s not everyday in Sierra Leone that you see a 10 month old weighing 10 kilograms! I hoped for the best and called the ship to ask if they could do his surgery, knowing this was probably Nathan’s only chance.

A little later I was able to tell Nathan and his mom that they're going to make a trip to Liberia in January 2006 for the operation! Nathan’s mom was happy and it was a relief for her to see before and after pictures of other children who underwent surgery, as she thought that her son was the only child in the world with this condition. Also when Nathan was born, her family told her that it was ‘an act of the devil’. It was great to tell her that her son had not been cursed, that she didn’t do anything wrong, and that there was help available for Nathan. Nathan & his mom left the clinic that day with a letter for the ship, a surgical appointment card and a thankful heart. I left the clinic knowing that another chid has been given the opportunity of a life time- an opportunity that will change his life.

Introducing...

Aminata* and her 9 month old son, Alpha*, came to our center on Wednesday the 19th of October after a day long journey from Kabala to Freetown. Aminata was to be admitted for her vesico vaginal fistula operation.

They arrived at the center just as I was leaving for the day. However, it only took a minute to see that the baby was pale, had a terrible skin rash (scabies with infection), was underweight (5.6 kg) and had pneumonia. I had a few minutes to get him started on the proper medication, before going home. The next morning I did a complete examination- the baby had developed a fever overnight, had a large spleen and was quite pale. He was vomiting and not tolerating oral medication. Blood tests confirmed malaria and a hemoglobin of 5 g/dl. Usually when treating a VVF patient’s child it is like treating one of the out patient children- see the child, prescribe medication and explain to the mother how to give them. The only difference is the out patient children go home, the VVF patient’s child stays on the ward. With Alpha, I knew it was not wise to treat the baby as an ‘out patient’ on the ward. What made the decision of what to do difficult is that I knew that Aminata’s surgery was supposed to get her surgery within the enxt hour. I decided to cancel Aminata’s (elective) surgery and refer Alpha to the pediatric ward at Emergency hospital. In the end it was good that the child was referred- his Hb dropped to 4.4 g/dl and he ended up needing a blood transfusion as well as intravenous antimalarial treatment.

On Monday the 25th mother and child returned to us. Alpha looked much better. He did still have a chest infection and scabies, so I treated those and checked up on him everyday. I also had to make sure he was breast feeding frequently as well as eating solid foods. He was a joy to have around and it was great to see him improve so much. Aminata was able to have her surgery the following day and recovered quickly. Two weeks later, on November 9th, we were able to send home a healthy dry mother and a healthy happy baby. It was great to be a part of their lives.

*names have been changed

Encouraging notes...

A suggestion boxed was placed on the clinic's reception desk a few weeks ago. It was originally put there so that our employees can make their suggestions known. However, when we emptied it before our staff meeting last week we saw that there were only 2 suggestions in the box...and neither were from our employees, but from people from the Aberdeen community. I was encouraged by the notes.

Concerned Citizen - Aberdeen Community
“Appreciate the outpatient doctor for doing a wonderful job and healing to our children because she is the only one and she is doing a tremendous job. She loves the job more than the income and we appreciate.”

Concerned Mother – Aberdeen Community
“We appreciate and very greatful to the outpatient doctor. The medication are very very good and very very cheap and we are greatful for that. We will appreciate it more if you will see all the patient’s that are present in the morning. Above all we are happy to have you (Mercy Ship) in our community. Bravo to the outpatient doctor.”

Fun to read and to know that the clinic is appreciated (and we do try to see as many kids as possible, but more than 40 a day gets tough!

Trip home...

Good news- tonight I am going to the heliport to pick up doctor Jenny Vardy, who attended the tropical medicine course with me in Liverpool last year. She'll be working with me in the clinic for the next month and then she will cover for me while I am away.

So the greatest good news is that I have purchases my tickets! I will be in Holland from November 26th - December 19th. I'm really looking forward to the break and especially to the time I will be able to spend with family and friends. I will be home for my sister's 30th birthday and my niece's 1st birthday. Lots to look forward to.

Hope to catch up with some of you while in Holland!

M/V Anastasis...my home for many years...

Today the Anastasis arrived in Liberia, for what could be her last outreach. I am not sure how many of you have heard the news- but the plan right now is that after this next outreach the Anastasis will be put 'out of service'. You can probably imagine that I was quite surprised by the news and that I have mixed feelings- I grew up on the ship and it is a strange thought that her mission could be over. However, I know that God knows best, and His ways are not always my ways. Here is the official report. If things change- I'll let you know!

MERCY SHIPS FOUNDER UNVEILS CONCENTRATED FOCUS ON AFRICA

GARDEN VALLEY, TEXAS, SEPTEMBER 1, 2005: Following the completion of a recent executive committee meeting, Mercy Ships Founder/President Don Stephens announced a new strategy for Mercy Ships in serving the poorest of the poor, with a renewed focus on the continent of Africa.

Stephens began by affirming the Anastasis is poised to commence field service to the nation of Liberia beginning 28 October. He continued, “We are looking forward to bringing hope and healing to this war ravaged nation with a hospital ship which concentrates on transformational development for individuals and communities in desperate need. Mercy Ships volunteers and crew have now been in active service for almost a quarter of a century, most of it to people of Africa living in extreme poverty.” Stephens continued by announcing in coordination with the launching of the Africa Mercy, the Anastasis will be taken out of service in mid-2006 to facilitate a concentrated focus of efforts and resources on the Africa Mercy, the newest generation of Mercy Ship.

“This new ship will have approximately twice the capacity of all our prior field assets combined. She will serve as the model going forward for the next generation of Mercy Ships”. He noted a study will be conducted on the future of the Anastasis, with an emphasis on the implications of new international technical standards taking effect in 2010. The two ships will join together in Ghana in May at which time crew and equipment will be added to the Africa Mercy as she begins her first season of service.

Mercy Ships is the leader in using hospital ships to deliver free world class health care services to the poor. Since 1978, Mercy Ships has performed more than 2 million services, with a value of $250 million. Each year more than 1,600 short-term volunteers serve with Mercy Ships.

For further information, contact:
MERCY SHIPS
Glenn Price
VP, Communications
Phone: (903) 939-7000
E-mail: priceg@mercyships.org

good and bad...

I am doing well- very busy - saw 44 patients today. The last few weeks have been crazy with some very sick patients. Unfortunately a few of them have not made it and died at the referral center- mainly due to malaria and anemia! Also a few malnutrition cases - a 1 1/2 year old girl, weighing 5 kg and severely dehydrated didn't make it after 4 days of hospitilization. Again, many of these conditions can be treated if the child reaches a health center sooner.

For some reason in the past week I have also seen more children with deformities (large tumors on their faces, scalp, cleft lips etc). People still seem to think that we can do everything that the ship could do. Well, I have to tell them that we can't. However, with the ship going to Liberia we have been able to schedule a few cases. One mom came with a 5 month old baby- born with no right eye and a cleft lip. She said her family thinks the child is bewitched and she is too ashamed to take him home. She almost begged me to write a note saying I was going to try to find help for the child. I look forward to meeting her again on Wednesday- so that I can tell her we have scheduled her child for surgery on the Anastasis mid November!

Another positive note- I diagnosed my first appendicitis here; a 5 year old boy with abdominal pain. The physical exam and lab work sure made me highly suspicious, so I referred to Emergency Center. A few days later the mom and child came back to the clinic. They said the ride out to emergency was pretty bad because the potholes sure made the boys belly hurt, however, they were seen right away at Emergency and the surgery was done within hours. A few days after that the surgeon confirmed that yes it was appendicitis.

As you can see there are good outcomes and bad outcomes. Plenty of things to deal with, be sad about and ponder upon, but also plenty of things to be thankful for!

Video clip...

I am sure many of you are curious as to what exactly I’m doing here.
Well, if you click on the following link, you might be able to get some footage on the clinic.
It might take some time, so have patience :)

http://www.lakomission.org/cms_exodus/images/stories/video/opc_aug_2005.wmv